Wilderness Cove

• Wilderness Cove has been greatly affected by Hurricane Helene and the Black Cove Wildfires. The switchbacks from I-26 (Saluda exit) are not currently open. The only way to access Wilderness Cove is from the Mill Spring area.
• Set your GPS to “Silver Creek Baptist Church” (4391 Silver Creek Rd, Mill Spring, NC 28756). Once at the church, turn left onto Green River Cove Rd and continue about 6.5 miles. You may see “Primitive Road” and “Road Closed to Thru Traffic” signs—keep going. These signs indicate that the switchbacks at the end of the road are no longer accessible.
• At the second large bridge, you’ll see Wilderness Cove on the left.
• If traveling Green River Cove Rd after dark, please use caution. We are located in the Gamelands and wildlife are active.

• All guests and visitors must check-in at the main office upon arrival, and all guests must agree to and sign a copy of our terms & conditions. E-signature is encouraged in advance of arrival for a speedier check-in.
• If you are arriving after 5pm, please call ahead to receive your late arrival check-in instructions.

• Visit our Tubing page!
• Wilderness Cove was voted the #1 Best River Tubing Company in the USA in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. We’ve been floating guests down the Green River for many years, and we offer Mini Cats and inflatable kayaks for a 2.5–3 hour float through Class I and II rapids in the Green River Gamelands.

• Check-in is at 3pm. Early check-ins cannot be guaranteed. Please contact us in advance to see if an early check-in may be available to you. If so, an early check-in fee of $10 per hour will apply.
• If you are arriving after 5pm, please call or email in advance to receive your late arrival check-in instructions.

• Please check-out no later than 11am.
• If you leave after check-out time, your account is subject to a late check-out fee of $30. If you do not vacate the premises by noon on your check-out day, we will charge your account for an additional night’s stay, and you may incur additional liability.

• Please click HERE to view our cancellation policy.

• Yes, quiet hours are from 10:00pm – 8:00am.

• While occupancy limits strictly apply to the occupants specified at the time of booking, guests can request to add additional day and overnight visitors, pending availability and payment of additional fees. The following guidelines apply:
  • Day visitors must leave the park by 10:00pm.
  • Guests of the park are responsible for the behavior of their visitors, and all visitors must adhere to the Campground rules at all times.
  • Visitors are required to park their vehicles in designated parking areas.

• Yes, Wilderness Cove is pet-friendly and welcomes cats and dogs in both RV sites and certain lodging accommodations. A pet fee applies for lodging stays. Pets must be leashed when outside and cleaned up after. Please be sure your pet is current on their vaccinations.

• Absolutely! Campfires are an essential part of the camping experience, offering a cozy ambiance for gathering, storytelling, and creating lasting memories. For safety reasons, it is imperative that campfires be contained within the designated fire ring at your site. In the event of a local fire ban due to weather conditions, we will inform campers of this temporary restriction. To make it convenient for our guests, we provide firewood for purchase at our camp store or office. Please refrain from bringing outside firewood onto the campground. Additionally, any damage to or removal of the fire ring from your site may result in a replacement fee.

Great question — we completely understand why this comes up. We require guests to use only firewood purchased at Wilderness Cove for a few important reasons:

• Protecting the property from invasive pests and disease — Firewood can carry
insects and tree diseases that aren’t visible to the eye. Transporting wood from different areas is one of the main ways harmful pests spread, which can damage the trees and natural environment here at the Cove.
• Fire safety and burn quality — Our firewood is properly seasoned and approved for safe burning. Outside wood can sometimes be too wet, treated, or contain materials that create excessive smoke or unsafe conditions.
• Supporting the upkeep of the campground — Selling firewood is a small but
meaningful way we help maintain the property, trails, and amenities for all guests.

We appreciate your understanding — it helps us keep Wilderness Cove beautiful, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. We are happy to deliver firewood directly to your site at 6pm — just call or text the office to be added to the delivery list.

• Yes! The campstore offers essentials, snacks, drinks, camping gear, water shoes, freezer treats, and a small fly shop. Firewood and ice can be delivered to your site at 6pm (call or text the office to be added to the list).

• Linens are provided in all lodging accommodations (including glamping tents)! Towels are provided only in the Green River Guest House and Mountainside Cottage.

• What you’ll want to pack depends on your site type—Primitive Camping, RV, Glamping, or Cottage. We’ve created a detailed Packing Guide with checklists for each accommodation, so you’ll know exactly what to bring (and what’s already provided). Download our Packing Guide for site-specific lists and tips. You’ll find essentials like flashlights, bug spray, and towels on every list (which we also sell in our campstore for your convenience), plus recommendations for cooking gear, clothing, and comfort items. The guide also highlights what’s included at your site (like linens, cookware, or fire pits) so you can pack light and enjoy your stay!

• The nearest grocery store is Food Lion in Columbus, NC, about 30 minutes away. Columbus also offers a variety of restaurants, stores, and gas stations. We recommend packing food and groceries for your stay, as delivery services (Instacart, Uber Eats, etc.) are not available in our area. Please plan ahead.

• Yes, you do need a valid North Carolina Inland Fishing License to fish in the Lower Green River near Wilderness Cove. This section of the river is managed under Delayed Harvest Trout Waters regulations, which are part of the state’s Public Mountain Trout Waters program. Anglers age 16 and older must have a valid license whether fishing from shore, wading, or using a boat. North Carolina Fishing Licenses can be purchased online here.

• No worries – everyone starts somewhere, and we’re here to make your camping experience easy and fun! Check out our Camping 101 guide to learn everything from campfire safety and food storage to hiking basics and campsite etiquette, so you’ll feel confident from the moment you arrive. If you have any questions or need a little extra guidance, our friendly staff is always happy to help!

• Please click HERE to view our full terms & conditions.

• Yes! We have a few:
  • Military Discount: We are proud to offer a 10% discount to active and retired military members on stays of up to 6 nights. Please use the promo code SALUTE when making your reservation to apply the military discount and bring your military ID at the time of check-in.
  • Weekly Discount: A Weekly Discount will automatically apply to any stay of 7 nights or more. No promo code required.
  • Monthly Rates are currently unavailable at Wilderness Cove Campground.
  • Additional Discount Programs & Special Promotions may apply. Be sure to follow the Outdoor Adventure Retreats facebook page to make sure you don’t miss any special promotions!
• Follow the Outdoor Adventure Retreats facebook page to make sure you don’t miss any special promotions!

• Feel free to Contact Us and we’ll be happy to assist you!